Ignited by the Mountain Man

Ignited by the Mountain Man from author Lilah Hart is the latest short story to be checked off my to be read list. This is part of a muli-author series called Fall for a Mountain Man. You can read this story as a stand alone, or part of the series.

I’m choosing to read two books in this series, Ignited by the Mountain Man from Lilah Hart, and Haunted by the Mountain Man from Tiffany Bloom. These two have become my favorite short story authors, so that is why I’m choosing those. You can certainly read any of the stories in this series as a standalone, or in order. You can choose your own adventure because they are all individual stories.

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I first discovered Lilah Hart and her writing when I read the Wildwood Valley Brides series, and I was hooked. These short romance stories are perfect for busy days, because I still reach my goals of reading every day. If you’ve ever played the “just one more chapter” game when reading before bed, trust me when I tell you that these kinds of stories are perfect for actually winning that game.

Even on my busiest days, I can devote an hour to reading a short story like this. Sometimes it is scattered throughout the day, and sometimes it is all at once in the evening when things have settled down. It really just depends on the day.

Fall or autumn always means hoodies, soup, and football in my narrow little world. This also means I generally have less time to read, because I want to watch my favorite football teams each week. Her short stories mean that I can still read and finish stories, as I chase that feeling of accomplishment that comes from finishing a book, and still have time to watch football. I love that I am able to shift how much time I read versus watching tv, but not missing out on my reading.

If you’re ever struggling with finding time to read, put your phone down and pick up your Kindle. Replace mindless social media doom scrolling with reading a chapter in a short story. You’ll honestly be amazed at how much you can read in just one day. I know I was!

At the time of publishing this review, all of Lilah Hart’s short stories are available via Kindle Unlimited, making them more accessible to readers. This is an excellent way to utilize your subscription more if you’re anything like me and go through stages where you forget about it, but are still being billed for it.

Have you read Ignited by the Mountain Man? Come on in and let me tell you about it!

About Ignited by the Mountain Man

She destroyed his kindling pile and ignited his heart. Now this mountain man will prove she’s worth the burn.

I came to Wildwood Valley to write about their charming fall festival.

Instead, I accidentally destroyed a perfectly organized pile of kindling that belonged to the hottest mountain man I’ve ever seen. Talk about making a first impression.

Silas is all dark eyes, broad shoulders, and safety lectures that somehow make my pulse race instead of my eyes roll. He’s also patient enough to teach a clueless city girl how to build the perfect fire, one carefully placed stick at a time.

Which is convenient, since he’s definitely lighting mine.

But I’m supposed to be documenting this community, not falling for it. I’m definitely not supposed to be imagining what it would feel like to trade my nomadic lifestyle for cozy mountain mornings and a man who looks at me like I’m the answer to every question he’s ever asked.

Suddenly I remember why I keep moving—because staying means risking everything, including my heart. And mountain men with gentle hands and protective streaks are exactly the kind of risk I’ve been running from my whole life.

Too bad Silas has other ideas.

He’s determined to prove that some fires are worth the risk of getting burned. And maybe, just maybe, this wandering journalist is ready to stop running long enough to find out if he’s right.

Thoughts on Ignited by the Mountain Man

In Ignited by the Mountain Man we meet Keely and Silas.

Keely is a journalist that has been chasing stories and running instead of putting down roots. She is in town to cover the fall festival and write about traditions and the community. But she isn’t totally welcomed by everyone, and she is ready to run when people start talking.

Silas is a quiet veteran who prefers solitude and healing as he is still figuring out exactly who he is. His time in the military and the way it was spoken about here was something I’ve heard many veterans struggle with. I really appreciated that aspect of it. He’s a stickler for safety and procedures to keep everyone safe.

I really appreciated the character development in this story, both Keely and Silas were beautifully written characters that I understood and related to. Given that I’ve read a fair amount of short stories from Lilah Hart, I have to say that her character development has only improved over time, and Ignited by the Mountain Man is certainly no exception.

One wrong step, straight into Silas’ kindling pile, sets Keely on a totally different path than she had intended. Will it work? What if it does? What if this life is exactly what she has been running toward, and not away from?

Together they form a bond and have to decide if they can build a life together. Is love worth staying for instead of continuing to run?

I love the chemistry here in Ignited by the Mountain Man. It is undeniable, and addicting. We also get to meet Bobbi, the resident matchmaker in this story as well. She might very well be my favorite secondary character in Lilah Hart’s stories.

Ignited by the Mountain Man can definitely be considered a prequel to Mountain Man’s Flirty Farmgirl, and the entire Wildwood Valley Harvest series. This could also explain why I loved it so much, as that was easily my favorite series I’ve read from Lilah Hart so far.

Final Thoughts on Ignited by the Mountain Man

I’m calling Ignited by the Mountain Man a five star read. This is one that I really enjoyed because I felt the emotions of both Keely and Silas. They were extremely relatable characters. Their chemistry couldn’t be ignored.

I will read this story again in the future, which is one of my personal standards for a five star rating.

I know I said I was only reading Ignited by the Mountain Man and Haunted by the Mountain Man from this specific series, but if the other stories in this series are as good as this, it may very well be worth reading the entire series. I may take the time to read the others in the near future.

I don’t think you can really go wrong with any of Lilah Hart’s short stories, and this is certainly no exception. If you’re new to Lilah Hart’s short stories, I highly recommend starting with this one, and then follow that up with the Wildwood Valley Harvest series. They are perfect for autumn and to celebrate the changing seasons.

Discussion

Have you read Ignited by the Mountain Man or any other writing from author Lilah Hart? Are you a fan? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

About the Author

Lilah Hart has been writing and publishing for more than a decade, both for traditional publishers and independently. She writes short, steamy reads with plenty of heart. When she’s not writing, she loves binge-watching reality TV shows while sipping moscato. She lives in Knoxville with her husband and her pet Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Purchasing Ignited by the Mountain Man

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Ignited by the Mountain Man